Cards aim to end away misery

Brian Caffarey
7:50pm, Sun 2nd Sep 2012

Hereford United v Woking
7.45pm on Tuesday 4 September 2012

The Cards, still without an away point after three (admittedly very tough) trips, will be hoping for a change of fortune on Tuesday evening when they travel to Hereford United. The Bulls have lost their last two games, including a home defeat by Grimsby Town on Saturday, after a bright start to the campaign but will nevertheless prove formidable opponents at Edgar Street.

WOKING

Garry Hillâ€™s side played very well in the second half at Mansfield on Saturday and may consider themselves unlucky not to have gained a point. But, as at Wrexham and Forest Green Rovers, they were punished for one or two errors, conceding goals at critical times in the game.

Garry was fairly upbeat after the Mansfield defeat and, if the side can take the positives from that performance and cut out the errors, they might be able to spring a surprise on Tuesday. Itâ€™s certainly about time that they experienced a bit of good fortune.

Assuming Bradley Bubb is still on the injured list along with Gez Sole, it seems likely that Garry will start with the same side as against Mansfield.

HEREFORD UNITED

The Bulls suffered relegation back to the Conference at the end of last season but, under Martin Foyle, who took York City to the play-off final, they are expected to be one of the stronger sides in the BSP this season. Foyle made a number of signings in the summer, including centre back Luke Graham, who was with Foyle at York; Marley Watkins, a midfielder from Bath City; defender Andy Gallinagh; Chris Carruthers, a versatile player who previously played under Foyle at York; Marlon Jackson, currently out injured; and keeper James Bittner, whom weâ€™ve seen playing for Salisbury amongst other clubs. He has just added forward Tristan Plummer on loan.

The Bullsâ€™ results so far have been:

Hereford 2 Macclesfield 1
Tamworth 2 Hereford 2
Alfreton 0 Hereford 3
Hereford 4 Ebbsfleet 2
Newport 2 Hereford 0
Hereford 0 Grimsby 2

GETTING THERE

Edgar Street Athletic Ground
Blackfriars Street
Hereford
HR4 9JU

Official website: www.herefordunited.co.uk

By coach
The Cards Trust coach leaves Kingfield at 3pm. The cost is Â£16 for Trust members and Â£21 for non-members. To find out if there are any seats left, ring the Club Shop or email shop@wokingfc.co.uk

By car
Exit the M4 at junction 15, head north on the A419, keep straight on to the A417. Remain on the A417, cross under the M5 and then join the A40. At the Wilton Roundabout join the A49, signposted Hereford. At Hereford remain on the A49, at the 1st roundabout take the 2nd exit, which is the A49 north, over the River Wye. Having crossed the river, go through two sets of traffic lights, remaining in the left-hand lane and following the signs to Leominster. At the next roundabout remain in the left-hand lane and take the 1st exit again sign-posted Leominster and on the A49. The football ground is then 150 yards on your right.

By train
Getting there and back by train would require an overnight stay. Even then, Hereford isnâ€™t the easiest place to get to by train from Woking, involving a number of changes. Look up www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.thetrainline.com if you are thinking of making the journey.

ADMISSION PRICES

Adults: Â£16 / Â£18
Over 60s & Under 20s: Â£12 / Â£15
Under 14s: Â£5 / Â£7
Under 10s: Â£3 / Â£5

LAST TIME OUT

Woking 1 Hereford United 1
1 April 2006

Glenn Cockerill had to reshuffle his side for this match, with Karl Murray starting on the right in the absence of the injured Chris Sharpling and with Steve Ferguson playing up front. The Cards defence had to endure pressure from Stuart Fleetwood and his colleagues but, shortly before half-time, Craig McAllister rose at the far post to convert a fine free-kick from Karl Murray.

Woking had the upper hand for the first ten minutes or so of the second half, with Ferguson rampant, but then the Bulls took control. However, it wasnâ€™t until the third minute of injury time that they grabbed the equaliser, with defender Tamika Mkanawire getting the better of Stuart Nethercott.

Woking: Jalal, Jackson, Nethercott, Hutchinson, MacDonald, Murray, Smith, Evans (Blackman), L. Cockerill, McAllister, Ferguson

Unused subs: El-Salahi, Davies, S.Cockerill, Oyedele

NEXT GAME

The Cards are at home this Saturday (8 September) when Garry Hillâ€™s side take on newly-promoted Nuneaton Town.

Come on, you Cards!

Bulls outmuscle the Cards to claim all three points

Jacob Greenwood
10:10am, Wed 5th Sep 2012

Hereford United 2 Woking 1
Blue Square Bet Premier
4th September 2012

Two first half goals were enough to secure a win for Hereford and see Wokingâ€™s away days blues continue as they lost their fourth game in ten days.

After conceding an early goal on Saturday, Woking were looking to keep things tight as they went in search of their first away points of the season against Hereford.

However, Woking started poorly again and after only five minutes Joe McNerney was tackled whilst trying to clear the ball to safety and as the Cards tried to get the ball out the box it fell to Ashley Sammons, who looked up and smashed it across Howe and into the bottom corner to score the opening goal.

Hereford were looking dangerous and could have doubled their lead when Ryan Bowan latched on to a diagonal cross-field ball and found Smikle in the box, who could only find Howe from the edge of the six-yard box.

After this scare Woking did come back into the game when a McCallum corner dipped and landed at the feet of Jack Parkinson, who saw his low shot cleared off the line. Five minutes later the Cards came close again, this time as McCallum broke into the box at speed and crossed the ball to Pires, who had his weak shot saved by the keeper.

Wokingâ€™s 'achilles heel' so far this season has been conceding goals just before the break and when Mike Cestor was caught in possession by Sam Clucas in the Cards' penalty area they were guilty again as he stroked the ball past Howe to make it 2-0 to the home side on the stroke of half-time.

Half-Time: Hereford United 2 Woking 0

Woking started the second half well and came close when Betsy ran at the Hereford defence. He played the ball to Pires, who could only produce a weak shot straight at Dan Hanford.

With Woking looking to pull a goal back, Sawyer (pictured) played a good one-two with Betsy ending in a hard and low shot by Sawyer,which was saved at the â€˜keeper's near post.

With fifteen minutes remaining the game was still in the balance and Hereford nearly extended their lead when Clucas had a shot from long range, with Howe tipping the ball round the post.

The Cards found themselves back in the game soon after. Joe McNerney met a header, which caused the Hereford keeper to miss the ball and allowed Betsy to head in at the back post in the 81st minute.

McCullum came close moments later to equalising for Woking when Joe McNerney flicked on a long ball and McCallum had a snap-shot which Hanford tipped behind for a corner.

Hereford again came close to extending the lead in the dying moments when Nichols latched on to a through-ball and sent the ball crashing against Howeâ€™s far post.

Despite throwing everything at Hereford and with the clock ticking down the Cards failed to earn a point and so recorded their fourth consecutive loss on the road this season. The Cards will be hoping they can get back to winning ways when they face Nuneaton at Kingfield this Saturday.

Woking:
Aaron Howe, Adam Newton, Mike Cestor (Adam Doyle 45), Mark Ricketts (George Frith 80), Joe McNerney, Loick Pires (Dean Sinclair 60), Jack Parkinson, Kevin Betsy, Lee Sawyer, Brett Johnson, Gavin McCallum

Unused subs:
Sam Beasant, Bradley Bubb

Hereford:
Dan Hanford, Andy Gallinagh, Harry Pell, Luke Graham, Chris Carruthers, Sean Canham, Stefan Stam, Sam Clucas, Ryan Bowman (Tom Nicholls 83), Ashley Sammons (Will Evans 67), Brian Smikle (Tristan Plummer 85)

Unused subs:
Joe Heath, Simon Clist

Cautions:
Harry Pell 32

Attendance: 1481

MOTM: Lee Sawyer â€“ worked hard all night both in defensive midfield and creating opportunities going forward.

Hereford United LINEUP
12	Dan Hanford
2	Andy Gallinagh
14	Stefan Stam
6	Luke Graham
8	Chris Carruthers
22	Brian Smikle ('86)
20	Ashley Sammons ('67)
4	Harry Pell
18	Sam Clucas
19	Ryan Bowman ('83)
10	Sean Canham
BENCH
3	Joe Heath
17	Will Evans ('67)
21	Tom Nichols ('83)
11	Simon Clist
23	Tristan Plummer ('86)

WOKING LINEUP
1	Aaron Howe
2	Adam Newton
3	Mike Cestor ('45)
5	Joe McNerney
16	Brett Johnson
4	Mark Ricketts ('76)
8	Jack Parkinson
15	Lee Sawyer
7	Loick Pires ('60)
11	Kevin Betsy
19	Gavin McCallum
BENCH
18	Sam Beasant
6	Adam Doyle ('45)
17	Dean Sinclair ('60)
22	George Frith ('76)
9	Bradley Bubb